Mast Therapeutics Receives Notice Of Allowance Of Composition Of Matter Patent Application Covering Vepoloxamer

Mast Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: MSTX), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, clinical-stage therapies for sickle cell disease and heart failure, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a notice of allowance for its patent application entitled, "Poloxamer Composition Free of Long Circulating Material and Methods for Production and Uses Thereof" (U. S. Patent Application No. 14/793,670). Upon issuance, the patent will provide key intellectual property protection for the Company's vepoloxamer programs that is expected to expire no earlier than July 2035. The allowed claims cover composition of matter, methods of use, and methods of making certain purified forms of poloxamer 188, including vepoloxamer. The notice of allowance concludes substantive examination of the patent application, which is expected to issue as a patent once the issue fee is paid and the USPTO concludes administrative procedures. Mast also has filed corresponding patent applications that will allow the Company to seek similar patent protection for vepoloxamer in key markets throughout the world, including Europe and Japan. "This milestone is an important contribution to our intellectual property strategy," stated Brian M. Culley, Chief Executive Officer of Mast Therapeutics. "We believe this patent not only will provide protection for vepoloxamer in sickle cell disease beyond the seven-year orphan market exclusivity period anticipated in the U.S., but also strengthen the commercial opportunities for development of vepoloxamer in non-orphan indications such as heart failure and stroke."Martin Emanuele, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Development of Mast Therapeutics and primary inventor, commented, "We are gratified that the USPTO has recognized the novelty and uniqueness of vepoloxamer. We plan to continue to strengthen our intellectual property protection for vepoloxamer to further enhance its potential value as a therapeutic intervention in a wide range of diseases and conditions characterized by impaired microvascular blood flow and/or damaged cell membranes."